Seeking Master Gardeners or Landscape Architects for Small Park projects

The City of Seward is seeking one-page proposals from qualified gardeners to submit ideas and install park or garden projects the summer of 2014. Interested gardeners should include program ideas, resources and proposed, detailed budget. Seward Parks & Recreation is seeking small projects such as maintainable rock gardens or similar or very small, low-maintenance, hearty landscape areas to beautify specific areas of Waterfront Park. (Submissions for other areas may be considered, however the focus will be Waterfront Park in 2014.) Proposals should include drawings, photos, specific material details and other considerations as developed by the proposed contractor. The proposal must include an agreement regarding maintenance by the contractor. A resume of previous related activities and professional references for successful projects are encouraged. Detailed proposals shall not exceed ten pages. The projects will be scheduled as mutually beneficial with the City and the contractor, and will run through mid-August. A small and reasonable budget for supplies, materials and work is available to the contractor selected. Questions should be submitted to Karin Sturdy, ksturdy@cityofseward.net or 224.4057.

Local Yoga instructor and TYC friend Micheley Svabik brought her Yogi wisdom to the TYC camps during “Superfit” week 2. Groups took turns learning poses, breathing and mind-quieting techniques to help re-charge the battery during exhausting camp days. Campers learned the more physical side of Yoga as they attempted to hold the virabhadrasana II (warrior II) or the vrksasana (tree) poses and quickly discovered that even beginning yoga is a worthy “Superfit” exercise. TYC hopes to have Micheley back soon to learn some new moves. Until then we’ll attempt to stay balanced in the sometimes chaotic world of day camp. Our gratitude is beyond measure, thank you friend. Maggie Wilkins TYC Coordinator 224-5472.

Thirty six kiddos and TYC staff enjoyed the experience and hospitality of the Major Marine crew aboard the Orca Song on Wednesday, June 11th. Partly cloudy skies quickly gave way to bright sun as we ambled out of the Harbor and into the bay on glassy calm waters. Among the highlights of the trip were witnessing a baby humpback whale nursing momma, Dall’s Porpoises riding the bow of the boat, a bald eagle nesting, a pod of hunting Orcas, a Stellar Sea Lion haul out and a Fin whale. Many of these sightings were a first for some of our young seafarers. Their wonderment and excitement would make even the most profound curmudgeon crack a smile and take notice. Our appreciation for our knowledgeable and courteous crew and for the generosity of Major Marine Tours cannot be measured. Thank you for a wonderful day that will stay with all of us for quite some time. Maggie Wilkins TYC Coordinator 224-5472

TYC Campers Become Junior Rangers

TYC Campers joined Ranger’s Luke & Fiona out at Exit Glacier on Friday, June 13th to participate in the Kenai Fjords National Parks Junior Ranger Program. Campers were given a booklet, sent off to explore and were asked to write down 5 observations; what did they hear, smell, taste, feel and see? The younger campers also got to ham it up for film crews as the Park Service was filming a promotional film about the Junior Ranger Program. The camera men filmed the campers exploring and enjoying their surroundings such as alder bushes, moose droppings, a friendly Yellow Bellied Thrush, chatter marks (glacier-carved rocks) and blooming flowers such as Fireweed and Lupine. Kids made observations, took notes and drew pictures in their Junior Ranger Adventure Guides. All TYC Campers went home with their Junior Ranger Patches and a great time was had by all. TYC is extremely grateful to our gracious hosts for a wonderful experience and we are looking forward to many more collaborations with the Kenai Fjords National Park. Maggie Wilkins TYC Coordinator 224-5472

The Teen & Youth Center (TYC) Division is focused solely on our dozens of Summer Day Campers throughout June. Attendance has doubled since Week One, when the reduction of fees was notified. Attendance continues to climb. We expect a boom around July 7 when Adventure Camp begins. June highlights for the campers have been: Major Marine boat ride; Soccer Play Day; Little League baseball clinic with the Peninsula Oilers; hours and hours of outdoor playground fun; crafts and treats; and a Kenai Fjords National Park Service field trip. The NPS also reached out to TYC to partner with a brand new Hiking Club, held each Monday for older campers. Ranger Luke works with our TYC staff to teach and provide tips on how to hike, how to fill and carry a backpack and “leave no trace” hiking.

Youth Soccer League

Advertisement

If you love Soccer, being outdoors and having fun with friends, then the summer Soccer League is for you! This program features bi-weekly practices, skill development, league jerseys, scrimmages and more! For safety, shin guards are required. League will run Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:30 or 6:30pm; Dates: July 7th through August 113th. Place: Elementary School Soccer field. Cost: Early bird: $25 by June 9th. Regular: $30 by June 16th. Late: $35 after June 16th (Pull Date July 7th)

Subway Tri-Harder-Thon

Want to challenge yourself and enjoy the outdoors at the same time? Sign up for this year’s Subway Tri-Harder-Thon – Seward’s own Adventure Triathlon! Sat, July 26th starting at Primrose Campground area, this race consists of a 5 mile Kayak (Kenai Lake); 6.3 mile Trail Run (Primrose/Meridan Trail); 18.6 mile road bike (Grayling/Meridian trailhead to Seward). Go to www.signmeup.com/99270 to sign up for the 2014 triathlon. (Pull Date 7-26)

The Sports & Recreation (S&R) Division devotes staff time to adult softball and youth soccer. Additionally the continued promotion and coordination of the Subway Tri-Harder-Thon at the end of July requires attention. Softball leagues and have a great turnout with 13 teams. Each team boasts a minimum of 12 players, has lots of support from great sponsors and from many great athletes. The British Soccer Camp for youth starts this Monday, June 23 and Sports and Rec. is very excited to see a great turnout. We have three professional coaches coming to Seward to teach the great youth. The Stylin’ Stitches Seward Youth Soccer league is just around the corner, and we are very excited and are anticipating a large group of Seward’s youth to participate. Parents and community members are encouraged to sign up to be volunteer coaches. The Rock wall has been busy this summer and has been a popular activity for the community, as well as open gym basketball in the evenings.

The Rec Room program in the old museum is just for teens. Whereas in the past, summer recreation programs were sporadically attended, the introduction of the new “just for teens; no little kids allowed” facility has really garnered the results the community was seeking throughout the many Seward Prevention Coalition planning sessions, surveys, gatherings and Town Hall Meetings. Rec Room Summer Hours for Middle School students are: Mon to Thur 5:30 to 9 pm, Fri & Sat 5:30 to 10pm. High School students enjoy the same hours plus one hour later, each night. The community is very thankful that attendance reports list up to 16 teens per night. Teens enjoying evenings of movies, games, music, snacks and socializing at the Rec Room. Teens also help to plan, coordinate and market (i.e. invite via Instrgram) summer events: picnic and field game night, grill-out & bonfire, water duals event, field trips and more. SPRD welcomes new summer Rec Room staff Simon Swiderski who has made quickly cemented trusted relationships with our teens, and spends some of his afternoon with the TYC Summer Day campers.

The Community is discussing the concerns and merits of changing the name of the Jeep Trail to “Hikers Trail.”